The state government on Sunday suspended a project manager and a junior engineer (JE) of UP Projects Corporation Limited (UPPCL) for their involvement in alleged anomalies in development of Bhimrao Ambedkar Gomti Park near Gandhi Setu. The government has also ordered an inquiry into the matter.

UPPCL Managing Director Abrar Ahmad issued the inquiry as well as suspension order of project manager Kripa Shankar Pandey and Junior Engineer Ashok Kumar Singh on the directives of PWD and Irrigation Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav.

According to a press release,UPPCL has also decided to end the services of JE Anil Kumar Verma,who was working with the corporation on contract. Abrar Ahmad was not available for comment.

The order of suspension and inquiry came soon after the Lucknow police arrested Verma in connection with a case lodged by a contractor,Padmanabham Manglam Kumar Singh,at Hazratganj police station.

The contractor had alleged that he was given work to supply soil for levelling the ground near Gomti river for development of Bhimrao Ambedkar Park without any written agreement or work order,by Kripa Shankar Pandey,who later declined to pay his dues of Rs 25.34 lakh. The work was done in the previous BSP regime.

Singh alleged that Pandey threatened him of getting blacklisted in the state when he asked for his dues.

Lucknow DIG Ashutosh Pandey said that an inquiry would be started on Monday.

Action ordered against forest officer

Lucknow: Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday ordered suspension and disciplinary action against a divisional forest officer (DFO) of Bahraich,an official spokesman said here. Yadav ordered action against Bahraich DFO Ram Khelawan Singh on the basis of an inquiry. It was found that Singh issued permission for felling of 400 Arjun trees in Kaisarganj range in an unauthorised manner.